Manila,
Tropical Storm Bualoi has left at least four people dead and forced the displacement of more than 400,000 residents as it swept through parts of the Philippines with heavy rains, strong winds, and widespread flooding.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the fatalities were recorded in different provinces as flash floods and landslides struck communities vulnerable to the storm’s impact. At least 27 others were reported injured, while several people remain missing as of Friday morning.
Government officials said more than 120,000 families were affected across Luzon and the Visayas, with evacuation centers now hosting tens of thousands of displaced residents. Local authorities have appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance, citing shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies in overcrowded shelters.
Bualoi made landfall on Thursday evening, dumping torrential rains that submerged low-lying towns and cut off power in several provinces. Road networks and bridges were also damaged, complicating relief efforts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed national agencies to scale up emergency response and ordered the military to assist in rescue operations. The Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed that relief packs and cash aid are being distributed to affected communities.
Meteorologists warned that while Bualoi has weakened slightly as it moved northwest, rains would continue in central and northern Luzon, raising fears of further flooding and landslides. Residents in high-risk areas have been advised to remain vigilant.
The Philippines, an archipelago prone to tropical cyclones, experiences about 20 typhoons and storms each year, with climate experts warning that changing weather patterns are increasing their frequency and intensity.
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